- The CEOs who are already three weeks old in office, will basically manage and oversees day to day operation of the hospitals.
- They will report to Health County Executive Committee Member (CEC) on policy issues, reports to relevant chief officers on daily operation of the facility.
Image: NCCG
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has appointed four managers to become the chief executive officers of the county's top hospitals saying the facilities need to offer more than medical treatment.
Those picked are Frederick Otieno Obwanda ( Mutuini hospital), Alexander Irungu Wanjiru ( Mbagathi), Christine Kiteshu ( Pumwani Maternity) and Martin Alfred Wekesa Wafula (Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital).
“The hospitals are institutions that have to be managed professionally. From how you (patient) are received at the gate, to the state of facilities, availability of commodities, the physical environment, human resources, supply chain of drugs, food among others,” Sakaja said on Sunday.
He said the facilities need managers who see the overall picture as the professional staff focus on their core mandate, hence the need for CEOs.
The county boss further highlighted that having the CEOs will also oversee customer service which basically determines whether the patient will return to the facility to seek medical services or not.
“Customer service and satisfaction is top priority. The people of Nairobi are our customers and having them served right and properly in hospitals will be a priority for the CEOs,” Sakaja added.
The CEOs who are already three weeks old in office, will basically manage and oversees day to day operation of the hospitals.
They will report to executive committee member in charge of health and brief him/her on policy issues, reports to relevant chief officers on daily operation of the facility.
The hospitals have previously been managed by medical superintendents who Sakaja said will remain in office but they have now become the deputy CEOs for medical services.
Medical Superintendents will be in charge of clinical services.
“We have assigned the medical superintendents the role of Deputy CEO Medical Services and the Hospital Admin the role of Deputy CEO Administration. They will focus on administrative issues, quality health services and revenue generation and optimisation,” Sakaja said.
The CEOs will work hand in hand with the boards of management in the four hospitals which were appointed in May by the governor.
AMREF Health Africa CEO Dr Githinji Gitahi will head the Mbagathi Hospital board joined by Edwina Auma Oliech, Martin Kanga Adienge, Joram Fichingo Mwinamo, Faiz Ochieng Magak and Edna Agmetta Akinyi as board members.
Dorcas Kemunto will chair the Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital board together with Susan Wanjiru Kamau, Jennifer Mumbua Mutunga, Yvonne Peris Alera Makhokha, Ronald Ngala Onianga and Fridah Wambui Nduati as members.
Sakaja picked former Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi to chair the Board of Directors of the infamous Pumwani Maternity Hospital.
Zahra Mohammed, Evalyne Ikwii Omasaja, Saidi Matokaa, Ali Joram Juma Mkwambaa and Ustadh Hassan Ali Amin have been appointed as members of the Pumwani Hospital board.
Dr Isaiah Tanui will head the Mutuini Hospital Board aided by Nancy Wairimu Mbai, Brian Muchene, Oliver Chiraba, Salome Mbugua and Samuel Okwany as the board members.
Governor Sakaja urged the new board members to put the interests of Nairobi residents seeking health services first, saying his administration will not tolerate cases of negligence.
He said before appointing the new board members, he took time to ensure he got professionals who would put the interests of patients first.
“They were not chosen by accident. It was very deliberate. We have people from all walks of life, from different professions, from different religions, from all the tribes in Nairobi,” Sakaja said.
The governor also reiterated the need to restore dignity to all district hospitals by making them look good and attractive to residents.
In his first budget, Sakaja’s administration allocated Sh400 million for equipping and stocking of sufficient drugs and non-pharmaceuticals to the county health facilities.
Also, Sh1.1 billion has been allocated towards the construction, equipping and rehabilitation of Health Facilities to ensure affordable health services.
During pre-elections last year, one of the governor’s priorities was to improve healthcare for the population by upgrading the status of the hospitals and other healthcare facilities which have been pointed out for lacking medication and a professional workforce.
Sakaja’s administration is credited with rehabilitating the Pumwani hospital.
Intensive care units were also introduced at Nairobi County Hospital, with Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital among those that have benefitted.
During the launch of the ICU bed facility, the governor said hundreds of patients from Nairobi who had been queuing at Kenyatta National Hospital and Kijabe Hospital in Kiambu County for ICU services had received a major relief.
The governor also promised to establish an ICU facility at Mbagathi Hospital.
Other achievements in the health sector include timely payment of allowances to Nairobi Community Health Volunteers, refurbishment of Nairobi City Mortuary, and distribution of KEMSA health commodities and other supplies worth Sh244 million, among others.